Which term describes the substance that dissolves in a solution?

Which term describes the substance that dissolves in a solution?

• A. Solvent
• B. Buffer
• C. Solute
• D. Density

Answer: (C)

The key idea is distinguishing what dissolves from what does the dissolving. The substance that dissolves in a solution is the solute. In a typical salt-and-water solution, water is the solvent—the dissolving medium—and the salt is the solute—the substance that dissolves. A buffer is a system that resists pH changes, not related to dissolution, and density is simply mass per volume, not about what dissolves. So the term describing the substance that dissolves is solute.

The key idea is distinguishing what dissolves from what does the dissolving. The substance that dissolves in a solution is the solute. In a typical salt-and-water solution, water is the solvent—the dissolving medium—and the salt is the solute—the substance that dissolves. A buffer is a system that resists pH changes, not related to dissolution, and density is simply mass per volume, not about what dissolves. So the term describing the substance that dissolves is solute.